And oscar c



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. A. BLUME. HAY RIGKBR Patented Nov. 22; 1892.

IYIIVVEIVTOR WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets'-Sheet 2.

0. A. BLUM E.

I HAY RIOKER.

' No. 486,751. Patented Nov. 22', 1892.

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 8.

G. A. BLUME. I

HAY RIOKBR.

No. 486,751. Patented Nov. 22', 1892.

INVENTOH WITNESSES Tn: NORRIS FEI'ERS 00:, PHOT0 LITMO.. WASHINGTON. D c.

.line a; at, Fig. 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. BLUME, OF ATTIOA, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK E. MINOR, OF OOLFAX, INDIANA, AND OSCAR O. MINOR, OF GARDNER, ILLINOIS.

HAY-RICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,751, dated November 22, 1892.

Application filed April 29, 1892. Serial No. 431,135. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern; 1

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BLUME, of Attica, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Rickers; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in hay-rickers.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved hay ricker, exceedingly simple, cheap, and durable in construction, and which can be easily operated with a minimum amount of power, and which can be adjusted as the stack increases in height, so'that the hay will not have a great distance to travel from the fork to the top of the stack and so that a stack of considerable height can be formed; and a further object is to provide certain improvements in the cohstructionot' detail parts whereby the operation and construction of the machine is improved.

Theinvention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the machine, showing it adjusted to its full height and the elevating-fork in its lowered position to receive the load. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the hay-fork being shown in its elevated position and the machine adjusted to its lowered position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on Fig. l is a detail View.

In the drawings, reference-letter a indidates two parallel runners, of suitable length and held the required distance apart by strong braces and cross-strips, so that said runners will be rigidly held in position against lateral independent twisting or play. An extensible vertical frame is rigidly secured to and carried by these runners or sills. This frame preferably consists of the two lower vertical parallel beams b, at their lower ends rigidly secured to the runners and secured together and braced, and the upper beams c forming adjustable extensions of the beams b, and secured to the beams 19 by means of embracing rings or loops d and a tongue and groove, so that the beam 0 can slide longitudinally on the beams b, whereby the frameis rendered vertically extensible or adjustable. The beams'b and 0 can be provided with registering apertures, so that the upper section of the framecan be held in'the desired vertical adjustment by means of'pinse straps and rollers h. The lower end of each lower section 9 is pivoted to the outer portion of its respective runner, and the upper end of the sectionfis pivoted to the upper end of its respective beam 0.

j isa frame composed of two parallel beams rigidly secured together and extending outwardly and approximately horizontally from the upper portion of the beams c, to which the inner portions of the side beams of said frame j are secured. The outer end of this frame j is supported by the downwardly-extending braces e, near their lower ends pivoted to a yertically-movable frame 70, extend-.

ing outwardly from the lower ends of said beams c,towhich it is pivoted by means of a suitable casting m. The braces e extend downwardly and inwardly from the outer end of framej and are pivoted at n to the side bars of the frame It and extend a short distance below the said side bars of the frame lo, where they are provided with suitable means for attaching the raising or hoisting cables 0, which extend upwardly therefrom to two spools p, rigid on the shaft q, and mounted on and near the upper ends of the braces e, and this shaft q is provided with a central drum 1", on which the rope s is secured, which extends down to the Windlass t, mounted on ICC one of the cross-bars connecting the runners a. By this means the upper section of the vertical supporting-frame and the frames j and 1c and braces 6 can be all raised or dropped to the desired adjustment for the purpose hereinafter described. The frame It extends outwardly at an angle between the braces g f, and this frame is held in the proper position by the metal straps 1, secured to the sections f of the extensible braces and bracing the side beams of frame 70, rollers 2 being provided to bear on the upper and lower edges of the side beams of the frame is.

3 is a vertical swinging frame carrying and hoisting the hay-fork and composed of the two parallel bars at their rear ends pivoted to the lower ends of the beam of the vertical adjusting section of the supporting-frame,

said beams 3 being'preferably pivoted to. the

same casting m to which the frame is is pivoted, the bars 3 extending. outwardly at the outer sides of the vertical supporting-frame. and of the bracesand other parts, of the machine." These beams3 are rigidly secured together by crossebar 4:, located a'distance back from their outer free ends.

. Thehay-fork consists of. the series of parallel main fingers 6, which when. the hay-fork is.

5 are outwardly andupwardly curved metal. arms'rigidly secured to the ends of the beams 3, and to the outer ends of which the hayfork is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane.

lowered lie in an approximately-horizontal position tothe supporting upwardly-extendingfingers7,extendingapproximatelyatright angles from the inner ends of the main fingers 6. The main. fingers are rigidly secured together by the cross-bar 8, rigidly secured thereto on their upper sides a distance. in front of their rear ends, and the upright fin.- gers 7 are also securedto'gether by the cross:

bar 9, located above their lower ends, and.the.

'inner meeting ends of the fingers 6 and 7 are pivoted together, as shown, so that the angle between the two series of fingers 6 7 can be varied by means of the inclined braces 10, rigidly secured to, one of the cross-bars 8 or 9', and provided with slots and bolts passing;

therethrough for clamping their opposite ends adjustably to the other cross-bar; The ins clination of the seriesof fingers 7 can be varied, so that the hay can be heldinthe V- shaped' fork if desired, or sothat it willslide.

off more readily when. the fork is in its ele? vated position. desired, be provided with short armsll, car.-

rying rollers, which engage the front. ends of.

position throughout The cross-bar 8 can also, if

tween the two series of fingers, throwing cross-bar 9' against the bars 3, thereby holding the fork firmly in position, as when the bars 3 reach the perpendicular position the hay slides off of the series of fingers 7 onto the stack, and when. the bars 3 swing down the series of fingers 6 drop down upon the ground in position to receive the load. The fork thus assumes automatically its proper its operation. The fork and its swinging carrier are-controlled by the ropes 12 at their upper ends, secured to the cross-bar 13 of the vertically-adjustable supporting-frame, and from thence extending downward over pulleys 14, carried by the outer end of frame j, and pulleys 15, carried by the outer end of framek, to and around pulleys 16, carried by. cross-bar at of the swinging carrier, vto'the fork, and. from thence upwardly from the outer ends of frames kandj to pulleys.17, mounted, at the,

top of the vertical adjustable supportingframe, and thence passing down to the runners and. under pulleys 18, secured thereto to the singletree 19, to which the horse is attached, Thus when the horse drawsoutof the lower end of the cable the swinging carrier and fork are elevated by means of the cables, and as the carrier swings upwardly the cablesleave the pulleys 15 at the. outer end of the frame is, and when" the carrier is.

moved up two-thirds of its distance the cables leave the pulleyslt. The strain is then sustained by the pulleys 17 at the upper endof the vertical supporting-frame, and when the cable is slackened the swinging carrierde: scends and the cables take their-proper position on, the. pulleys Hand 15. 'A suitable. counterweighting device is providedfor the swinging carrier the fork, consisting of weight 20, supported by cable 21 atone end,

secured to across-bar. connecting the runners,

from thence. extending up; over pulley 22, carried by frame j, and thence extending down under. a pulley carried by the weight 2.0, and from thence upwardly between the two pulleys 23 and 24, and from thence to the cross-bar 4 of the swinging frame, to which it is secured, so that whenv theswinging car rier and. fork are lowered the weight 20 is elevated and the cable 21. passes over, pulley 2 4, andv when the carrier and-fork are intheir elevated positionthe weight 20 is lowered and the cable 21 passes over the pulley 23. This coun te rwei ghtin g device equalizes. the action.

of. the swinging carrier and its fork, so asv to reduce the force necessary to raise the loaded fork.

The counterweight assists the swinging carrier or frame ,iuits upwardmovement until it reaches such. a height. that the cable 2.1 passes from pulley 2 L to .pulley 23. The weight 'is then raised by its. cable, so that the carrier willbe quickly and automatically startedon its return, when the load is discharged and I the controlling-cables slackened. The weight draws the carrier forward and down until cable 21 passes from pulley 23 to pulley 24, after which point is reached the downward movement of the carrier raises the weight,

whereby all movements of the swinging carrier are equalized. As the swinging carrier or frame is in a perpendicular position when the fork discharges its hay, some force is required to start it .in its return or downward movement.

When the stack is first begun, the vertical adjustable supporting-frame is located at its lower point of adjustment and the fulcrum of the swinging carrier of the fork is near the ground, as shown in Fig. 2, the other parts occupying corresponding positions. When the stack has been built up so that the fork does not reach high enough, the vertical supporting-frame is raised to the desired point by the Windlass t and ropes 0 and shaftq, thereby raising the frame j and k and their respective guide-pulleys, and also raising the fulcrum of the swinging carrier of the fork. This operation is continued until the vertical supporting-frame is adjusted to its full height, at which adjustment the fulcrum of the swinging carrier is located at the upper ends of beams b, and the fulcrum can reach to aconsiderable height, which is twenty feet in the machine of standard size.

It should be observed that when the fulcrum of the swinging carrier is lifted the other parts are correspondingly elevated,-so that the guide-pulleys for the controlling-cables are always in the proper position, no matter what the adjustment of the machine, and the upper end of the vertical adjusting supporting-frame is always braced, whatever the adjustment.

Great advantages are attained ,by the curved metal extension-arms 5, on and be tween which the fork freely swings. This is a feature of importance in a vertically-adj ustable stacker, as the fork automatically adjusts itself and the teeth will always lie close and flat on the ground, whatever the vertical adjustment of the machine. As the fork is pivoted to said arms at a distance outwardly from the apex of the fork, the weight is thrown toward or nearer the fulcrum of the swinging frame than if the fork was secured at' its apex, whereby a minimum amount of power is required to raise the fork.

The many and great advantages of the ap paratus are obvious without further explanation,and it is evident that various changes and variations might be resorted to in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not desire to limit myself to the construction herein set forth, but consider myself entitled to all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a hay-ricker, the combinatiom with a Vertical supporting frame, of the swinging car- 'stantially as described and set forth.

rier fulcrumed to said frame and vertically adjustable therewith at its fulcrum-point, the hay-fork carried by said carrier, and operating means, substantially as set forth.

2. A hay-ricker provided with the swinging fork-carrier provided with a vertically-ad: j ustable fulcrum, and cables for swinging the carrier,provided with guide-pulleys carried by movable supports, substantially as set forth and described.

r 3. A hay-ricker provided with the vertical adjustable supporting-frame, guide-pulleys carried thereby, the swinging carrier fulcru med to and vertically adjustable with said frame at its fulcrum, the hay-fork carried by said carrier, and cables for swinging said carrier, passing over said pulleys, combined sub- 4. A hay-ricker having the swinging carrier.

provided with a vertically-adjustable support and fulcrum, substantially as described.

5. A hay-ricker having the swinging hayfork carrier, controlling-cables for operating the carrier, and a vertically-adjustable support carrying said carrier and provided with guide-pulleys for said cable, substantially as described. V v

6. In a hay-ricker, the combination of the extensible vertical frame, a support therefor, the swinging frame fulcrumed to and vertically adjustable with said vertical frame, the hay-carrier carried by said swinging frame, cables for operating said swinging frame, passing over pulleyscarried by said vertical frame, and a counterweight device for equalizing the movements of and starting the swinging frame in its downward movement.

7. In combination, the runners, the verti' cally-extensible supporting-frame extendingup therefrom, extensible braces therefor from the runners, outwardly-extending frames pivoted to said extensible frame and carrying guide-pulleys, the vertically-swinging frame fulcrumed to and vertically adjustable with said extensible frame, a hay-carrier carried by said swinging frame, and controlling-ca bles for the swinging frame, passing over said guide-pulleys, substantially as described.

' 8. In combination, a support, the rigid vertical frame, the vertical vertically-adj ustable frame supported by and confined to the rigid frame, a Windlass and cables for adjusting the adjustable frame, guide-pulleys carried by the adjustable frame, the swinging frame at its inner end fulcrumed to the adjustable frame, the pivoted fork carried by the outer end of the swinging frame, and controllingcables for the swinging frame, passing up over the adjustable frame and the pulleys thereof, substantially as described.

9. In combination, the runners, the vertical rigid frame secured thereto, the vertically-adj ustable frame confined to and adjustable on the rigid frame, the inclined extensible braces pivoted to the runners and said adjustable frame, having their sections loosely confined together, so as to slide longitudinally on each other, means, substantially as described,'for adjusting the adjustable frame, the Vertically-swinging frame pivoted to the adj ustble frame and carrying the hay-carrier, and operating means, substantially as described, for the swinging frame.

10. In a hay-ricker, a base or support, a rigid vertical frame, a vertically-adjustable frame confined thereto and provided with extensible braces, cable-guiding frames pivoted to and extending outwardly from said adjustable frame, the lower pulley-guiding frame being loosely supported by said extensible braces, the braces supporting the upper guideframe, hoisting-cables secured to the lower ends of said last-mentioned braces, the windlass mounted in said rigid frame to receive said cables and raise and lower the adjustable frame, and the swinging fork-frame carried by said adjustable frame and provided with one or more operating-cables, combined as set forth.

11. In a hay-ricker, the verticallyadj ustable supporting-frame provided with the vertically swinging fork carrying frame fulcrumed thereto and having the outwardly-exbination with the V- shaped fork pivotally jointed to the free end of said frame beyond I the apex of the fork, so that the center of gravity of the fork when loaded is beneath or inwardly from said pivotal points, substantially as described.

14L. The vertically-swinging frame, in combination with the V- shaped fork composed of the two series of fingers. joined at their inner ends, said fork being pivoted to the free end of the frame at a distance beyond the inner ends of the fingers, so that the meeting points of the fingers are located over the frame, as set forth.

15. The swinging frame having the outer ends of its beams provided with the outwardly-extending upwardly-curved arms, in combination with the fork composed of the two series of fingers joined together at their inner ends, said fork being pivotally joined to said arms at a distance from the inner ends ofthe fingers, so that the fork will rest against said frame, substantially as described.

16. The swinging frame having the out- .wardly-extending arms, in combination with the fork composed of the series of main fingers secured together, the series of upwardly-extending fingers secured together and to the inner ends of the main fingers, the fork being pivoted to said arms at points a distance outwardly from the inner ends of their main fingers, and the stop-arms carrying rollers, I v

substantially as described.

17. The swinging frame, in combination with the V-shaped fork pivoted thereto and composed of thetwo series of fingers pivoted together at their inner ends and adj ustably secured so that their angles can be varied, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. w

CHARLES A. BLUME. Witnesses:

I. E. SCHOONOVER, ALBERT SoHooNovER. 

